Drop foot brace



Jan. 29, 1952 L. M. GOFFREDO 2,584,010

DROP FOOT BRACE Filed Jan. 10, 1948 INVENTOR. LillionMGoffredo Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DROP FOOT BRACE Lillian M. Goffredo, New York, N. Y. Application January 10, 1948, Serial No. 1,502

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in braces for weakened feet.

Many types of foot supports or braces have heretofore been devised and used. The two most commonly used today are the full length leg brace which extends from the hip to the foot and the half length leg brace which extends from just below the kneecap to the foot. These braces, however, are embarrassingly conspicuous, especially when worn by Women, and they are extremely uncomfortable to wear. Furthermore, they are difficult to put on and take off and they unduly restrict the wearers movements. These leg braces are also quite expensive and they are generally unsatisfactory for the purpose for which they are intended.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a foot brace which combines all of the advantages which the leg braces above referred to lack, and which possesses none of their disadvantages and shortcomings. Although the present device and those above mentioned constitute foot supports 01' lower leg supports, these other devices extend the full length of the leg or at least half its length. The present device, on the other hand, occupies but a small portion of the lower leg. It is therefore much smaller and lighter than the previous devices and consequently relatively inconspicuous and more comfortable to wear. The construction of the present device is exceedingly simple, and it is accordingly relatively inexpensive to make. Its very simplicity of construction also makes for ease of application to the foot, and it may be put on the foot and removed from the foot without the slightest diliiculty. A very decided benefit and advantage which necessarily flows from the fact that the present device covers but a small area on the lower leg is the freedom from restriction of movement of the wearer, which it affords. It is in the full sense of the word a support rather than a brace, and it contributes to the wearers ability to move about. Far from making a corresponding contribution, the prior art braces hereinabove referred to actually restrict and limit the Wearers freedom of movement. To illustrate this point, it may be mentioned that where the patient has the ability to lock his knee although both foot and leg are weak, use of a half-leg brace or of a full-length brace would cause a pull on the leg or knee, whereas the use of the present device would lend adequate support to the weakened foot and leg without pulling upon the leg or knee.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofthe' device herein claimed, showing it worn on the lower leg; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of said device, showing it spread out flat.

It will be seen in the drawing that the present device comprises an ankle strap I0, which may be made of cowhide leather or other suitable material, approximately two to three inches in width and of a thickness which is dictated by the strength and stiffness of the material used. It is lined with a soft material H, such as kidskin or any other soft leather. This lining extends the full length and width of strap I0, and it is also folded over its edges, as shown in the drawing. This design provides a soft edge to the strap and renders it easier to wear. The lining is affixed to the strap by means of stitches I2 which extend marginally of said strap on all. side edges thereon. Riveted or otherwise aflixed to one end of the strap II] is a pair of smaller straps I5. Aflixed to the opposite side of strap II], also by means of rivets or other conventional means, is a pair of buckles I6. Straps II) are divided with a plurality of buckle-engaging holes IL and it will be understood that when the strap I10 is placed upon the ankle as shown in Fig. 1, it may be held in place thereon by means of appertured straps I5 which engage the buckles I6. It is by this means that strap I0 may be applied to the ankle with any degree of tightness. It may also be adjusted by this means to ankles of difierent sizes and proportions.

Intermediate the straps I5 and the buckles I6 is a looped member 20 which may also be affixed to the strap II] by rivets or any other conventional means. It will be seen in Fig. 1 that a tie member 2I may be used to attach the strap I 0 to shoe 22 worn by the wearer of strap 1.. This tie member which should be made of: a resilient or elastic material, such as rubber tubing, may be drawn through the lower eyelets 23 of shoe 22 and then drawn through a ring 25 which loop 20 supports, and said tie member may be tied to said ring 25 in any desired manner. The tightness of the connection between the strap member If! and the eyelets of the shoe 22 and the elasticity of the tie member 2| will determine the amount of support which the device will give to the weakened foot.

It will be understood that the foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of this invention and said embodiment may be changed to accord with different requirements within the broad scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the tie member may be made longer or 3 shorter, depending upon the foot and ankle dimensions and upon the weakness oi the foot or anterior tibia or both. It may also be made of greater or lesser elasticity. It may be made of rubber tubing or rubber strands or strips or of any other corresponding material. The strap 10 may be made wider or narrower as desired or required, and it may be made longer or shorter,

depending upon the individual need of the wearer. It may be made of leather as has heretofore been indicated, or of a plastic or woven material, and it may be made stiffer or more yielding as desired. Other means than the ring 25 may be used to affix the tie member to the looped member 20. Other modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

Foot supporting means, comprising, the combination with a shoe having lace eyelets at the front thereof, a removable ankle band, an elastic REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 8, 1918 OTHER REFERENCES Prothese Fonctionnelle, a book written by Chiray and Dagnan-Bonvest, and published by Maloine, 27 Rue de lEcole-de-Medicine, Paris, pages 245-248. Printed in 1919.

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